Tape measure

ABSTRACT

A tape measure housing is comprised of two asymmetrical housing portions. The first housing portion comprises a receptacle in which the tape measure components are located. The second housing portion comprises a cover that encloses the first portion along a seam that is asymmetrically disposed on the assembled housing. The housing portions are weighted such that the center of gravity of the housing is oriented so that the housing will assume a predetermined orientation when dropped from a height.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates generally to tape measures and, more particularly,to an improved tape measure and housing.

It will be appreciated that tape measures typically comprise a tapewound on a reel that is rotatably supported in a housing. The tape mayconsist of a steel blade, a plastic or fiberglass ribbon or otherrelatively flexible material that can be wound on the reel. The tape hasmeasurement indicia thereon such that it can be unwound from the reeland extended from the housing to measure linear distances. The tape maybe rewound on the reel manually using a crank or automatically such asby using a spring. The exposed end of the tape typically includes an endhook for temporarily attaching the end of the tape to an article duringuse and for preventing the end of the tape from being wound all of theway into the housing.

As will be appreciated tape measures are often used in relatively harshenvironments such as construction sites, industrial sites and other worksites. As a result tape measures are subject to impacts as a result ofbeing dropped or otherwise struck. Most tape measure housings consist ofa plastic or metal housing that comprises two substantially identicalclam shell halves where the halves are joined together along a centerline of the device and are secured together by screws, rivets or otherfasteners. Existing tape measure housings are prone to failure as aresult of being dropped or otherwise impacted because the tape measurehousing is subjected to shear forces along the seam where the twohousing halves are joined together that cause the connection between thehousing halves to fail. As a result, the end user may be forced toprematurely replace the tape measure.

Thus, an improved tape measure and tape measure housing is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a tape measure housing comprised of twoasymmetrical housing portions. The first housing portion comprises ahousing base in which the tape measure components are located. Thesecond housing portion comprises a housing cover that encloses the firstportion along a seam that is asymmetrically disposed on the assembledhousing. The housing is weighted to locate the center of gravity of thetape measure such that the housing will assume a predeterminedorientation when dropped from a height. By doing so, the housing willimpact the ground in a predetermined orientation where it can bestabsorb the impact with the ground without being damaged. A shockresistant material may also be formed on the housing to absorb theimpact. The shock resistant material may be located such that it isdisposed in a predetermined relationship relative to the location of thecenter of gravity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the tape measure of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the embodiment of the tape measure shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the embodiment of the tape measure shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the embodiment of the tape measure shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the tape measure shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the housing base of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the housing base of the embodiment shown in FIG.6.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the housing base of the embodiment shown inFIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tape measure shown in FIG. 1 withthe housing cover removed.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the housing cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 through 8, the tape measure of the inventioncomprises a housing shown generally at 1 and comprising a first housingportion or housing base 2 having a face 4 terminating in a peripheraledge 6. A sidewall 8 extends from the edge 6 for a substantial portionof the periphery but for less than the entire periphery of the face 4such that an open area 9 is created. The face 4 and sidewall 8 define aninterior space 7 for receiving the tape as will hereinafter bedescribed. Sidewall 8 includes a flange 11 extending around theperiphery thereof for engaging the housing cover as will hereinafter bedescribed.

The face 4 and sidewall 8 may be made of an integral piece of moldedplastic. An aperture 10 is formed in face 4 for receiving a fastener 12that supports reel 14 for rotational motion in housing 1.

Projecting from face 4 at the peripheral edge 6 are connecting elements16, 20 and 23 that retain the fasteners that secure the housing base 2to the housing cover 22. Specifically, an internally threaded post 16extends from face 4 a first distance and receives a threaded fastener18. A non-threaded post 20 extends from face 4 a second distance andabuts a threaded post 21 on cover 22 and receives threaded fastener 104.Finally, an internally threaded post 23 is formed in sidewall 8 forreceiving threaded fastener 24. In the illustrated embodiment, post 23is substantially flush with the outer edge of side wall 8. The posts 16,20 and 23 are of different lengths such that the distal ends of theposts do not lie in a common plane. Thus, abutting connections or seamsbetween these connecting elements and the opposed mating connectingelements on cover 22 are staggered across the width of the housing suchthat the seams do not lie in a common plane. While the illustratedembodiment shows the connecting elements as posts it is to be understoodthat the connecting elements that retain the fasteners may haveconfigurations other than posts.

Tape 30 may include a steel blade having a generally concave-convexprofile, a plastic or fiberglass ribbon or other relatively flexiblematerial that can be wound on hub 28. Tape 30 includes measurementindicia 30 a formed thereon as is known. Tape 30 may include an end hook38 at the distal end thereof to facilitate the temporary attachment ofthe tape measure to an object during use and to prevent the tape frombeing completely rewound within the housing.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 9, reel 14 includes a central hub 28 on which atape 30 is rotatably supported. Reel also includes a pair of upstandingwalls 32 spaced to receive the tape therebetween to support and guidethe tape onto the reel 26. A proximal end of the tape 30 is attached tothe hub 28. An axle 33 is fixed to side wall 4 and cover 22. Axle 33rotatably supports reel 14 such that reel 14 can rotate within housing1. Threaded bores 34 are formed on the ends of axle 33 that are engagedby fasteners 12 and 36 to support the axle within housing 1.

A spring 31 is located in the hub 28 for automatically rewinding thetape measure back into the housing 1. The spring 31 may consist of aflat spring that is fixed between axle 33 and hub 28 and is arranged tostore energy as the tape is manually unwound from the housing and to usethe stored energy to rewind the tape 30 on reel 14 if no opposing forcesare acting on the tape 30.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 through 5, a housing front 40 includes afirst side member 44 dimensioned and shaped to matingly engage theperipheral edge 6 of housing base 2 in open area 9. The side memberincludes a flange 48 that extends therefrom and overlaps with peripheraledge 6 to create a joint between the housing front 40 and housing base2. A second side member 50 having the same basic configuration as sidemember 44 is arranged opposite side member 44 for engaging housing cover4 as will hereinafter be described. The housing front 40 has the samewidth as side wall 8 such that when first side member 44 engagesperipheral edge 6, the flange 52 of second side member 50 is coextensivewith the flange 11 of side wall 8 such that flange 52 and flange 11define a substantially closed peripheral edge of housing base 2. A tapeopening 55 is formed in housing front 40 to receive the tape 30 andallow the tape to pass into and out of the housing 1.

Side member 44 and side member 50 include apertures 54 and 56,respectively, which are aligned with one another and receive post 16.Side member 44 includes aperture 58 and side member 50 includes asimilarly located aperture (not visible in FIG. 5) that are aligned withone another and receive post 20. To assemble the housing front 40 on thehousing base 2, posts 16 and 20 are inserted through the aligned pairsof apertures until flange 48 mates with peripheral edge 6.

A tape locking mechanism is also supported on housing front 40 andincludes a finger actuator button 62 located in opening 64 formedbetween side members 44 and 50. Actuator button 62 includes a throughhole 62 d that is pivotably supported on post 16 such that it can pivotabout post 16 relative to the housing. The end of actuator button 62includes a finger 62 a that engages a cam surface 66 of lock slide bar68 such that when the lower portion 62 b of actuator button 62 isdepressed, finger 62 a engages cam surface 66 to move the lock slide barlinearly from an unlocked position to a locked position where the lowerend 68 a of lock slide bar 68 is forced into engagement with tape 30.The engagement of lock slide bar 68 with tape 30 resists the returnforce of the return spring 31 to lock tape 30 in a desired extendedposition. Compression springs 72 are located between lock slide bar 68and toggle plate 74 such that the springs return the lock slide bar 68to a position disengaged from tape 30 when the upper portion 62 c ofactuator button 62 is depressed. Toggle plate 74 is supported on housingfront 40 to support and guide lock slide bar 68 and to supportcompression springs 72.

A finger brake 76 is also supported on housing front 40. Finger brake 76comprises an elongated plate having a finger button 78 formed in thecenter thereof and a pair of spring arms 80 extending from one side ofthe finger button. Retention clips 82 extend from the finger button 78to the side opposite spring arms 80. A retention plate 84 extendsbetween spring arms 80 to define an aperture 86 therebetween. Fingerbrake 76 is located in opening 88 formed in the bottom of housing front40 such that it extends under, adjacent to and substantially parallelwith the tape 30 in the area immediately adjacent tape aperture 55.Finger button 78 is disposed over opening 88 such that it is accessibleby the user from the exterior of the housing 1. A flange 90 formed onthe housing front 40 is inserted through aperture 86 to form a pivotallowing the finger brake 76 to pivot relative to the housing front 40.The retention clips 82 are located inside of opening 88 and abut theperiphery of opening 88 to maintain the finger brake in the housing. Inoperation the finger brake 76 can be depressed by a user such that itpivots about flange 90 so that the inside surface of the finger button78 contacts the bottom surface of tape 30. The finger button 78 appliesa frictional force to the tape 30 that slows the retraction of the tapeinto the housing 1. The user can vary the force applied to the tape byfinger brake 76 by varying the pressure applied to the finger brake suchthat the degree of braking on the tape 30 can be controlled, includingstopping the retraction of the tape into the housing.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5 and 10, housing cover 22 includes a face100 that is disposed substantially parallel to the face 4 of housingbase 2. Face 100 is dimensioned and shaped so as to conform to the sizeand shape of face 4. A peripheral flange 102 extends from face 100 andis substantially coextensive with wall 8. A hole 109 is formed in face100 for receiving fastener 36 to fix axle 33 in housing 1.

Projecting from face 100 at the peripheral edge thereof are connectingelements 21, 106 and 108 that retain the fasteners that secure thehousing base 2 to the housing cover 22. Specifically, post 21 extendsfrom face 100 and includes a threaded bore that receives fastener 104.Post 21 is dimensioned such that it extends to and abuts post 20 ofhousing base 2. A post 106 having an internal bore is formed at theperiphery of face 100 such that it is aligned with and abuts post 16 ofhousing base 2. Bore 106 receives fastener 18 that engages threadsformed within post 16. A post 108 having an internal bore is formed onthe periphery of face 100 that is aligned with and abuts post 23 formedon housing base 2. Post 108 receives fastener 24 that is threadablyengaged with the threaded bore in post 23. in the illustratedembodiment, post 108 is substantially flush with the outer edge of sidewall 8. The posts 21, 106 and 108 are of different lengths such that thedistal ends of the posts do not lie in a common plane and abut posts 16,20 and 23. Thus, the abutting interfaces of the connecting elementscreate seams that are staggered across the width of the housing. Whilethe illustrated embodiment shows the connecting elements as posts it isto be understood that the connecting elements that capture the fastenersmay have configurations other than posts. The securing of fasteners 18,24 and 104 within the connecting members secures the housing base 2 tothe housing cover 22 trapping the front housing 40 between the housingbase and the housing cover. A joint or seam 111 is created between thehousing cover 22 and housing base 2 that is off center of housingcenterline A-A as best shown in FIG. 2.

The housing cover 22 may be made of aluminum or cast magnesium or othermaterial that has a different material density than the molded plasticthat forms face 4 of housing base 2. By making the housing cover 22 of ahigher density material than the housing base 2, the housing 1 isasymmetrically weighted such that the center of gravity is locatednearer to the face 100 than to face 4. Referring to FIG. 2, thecenterline of housing 1 is shown at line A-A. The centerline as usedherein defines the plane that extends through the physical midpoint ofthe housing roughly equal distance from the side faces of the housing.The center of gravity of the housing, represented by point CG in FIG. 2,is located between centerline A-A and face 100 of cover 22 such that itis offset from the center-line and is asymmetrically located on thehousing. As a result, if the tape measure is dropped, it will rotate asis falls until the face 100 is oriented downward such that the tapemeasure will tend to land on face 100. The forces generated when theface 100 impacts a surface will be transmitted along the longitudinalaxis of the connecting elements 16, 20, 23, 21, 106 and 108 andfasteners 18, 24 and 104. As a result shear forces acting on theconnection or seam 111 between the housing base 2 and housing cover 22will be minimized.

While locating the center of gravity of the housing in the predeterminedasymmetric location has been described using different materials for thehousing cover 22 than the housing base 2, it is to be understood thatthe center of gravity may be located by using separate weights supportedwithin or on the housing or by selectively weighting other components.Moreover, the mass of the housing cover 22 may be increased or decreasedby increasing or decreasing its thickness relative to the housing basein addition to or in place of using a different material.

It has also been determined that by making the seam 111 between thehousing cover 22 and the housing base 2 off center from the centerlineA-A of the housing, even if the housing is impacted at a surface otherthan face 100, the shear forces acting on the connection between thehousing portions will be lessened and the failure of the housing isgreatly reduced. Further by interlacing the housing base 2, housingcover 22 and housing front 40 using the posts 16 and 20 in engagementwith the aligned apertures formed in the housing front 40, a very secureattachment between the housing components is achieved. By staggering theengagement of connecting members 21, 106 and 108 with connecting members16, 20 and 23 such that they are not in a common plane, there is noshear plane that runs through all of the engagement points between theconnecting members thereby strengthening the connection between thehousing base and housing cover.

To further protect the housing, a shock-absorbing sleeve 110 isprovided. Sleeve 110 may be made of thermoplastic rubber or other shockabsorbing material. Sleeve 110 may also be molded with a contoured outersurface 110 a to increase its grip. Moreover, sleeve 110 may be moldedwith high impact resistant areas 112. In the illustrated embodiment thehigh impact area 112 is an area of the sleeve 110 that is made with anincreased thickness as compared to the remainder of the sleeve. As bestshown in FIG. 6 this increased thickness area 112 may be provided with ahoneycombed or latticed interior structure that is well suited toabsorbing impact. The high impact areas of increased thickness may beprovided on those areas of the housing that are most susceptible todamage and/or are most likely to be impacted. In this regard, the highimpact areas may be combined with a predetermined location of the centerof gravity such that the housing will orient itself if dropped so as toimpact the high impact areas 112.

To assemble the tape measure of the invention, the return spring 31 islocated within the reel 14 and one end is attached to axle 33 and theother end is attached to reel 14. This may be accomplished by formingthe reel 14 of two separate components that are joined together afterthe spring is located within the hub 28. The tape 30 is then wound onthe hub 28 with its distal end projecting therefrom.

The front housing assembly 40 is assembled by mounting the lockingmechanism and finger brake on the housing front 40 as previouslydescribed. The distal end of the tape is threaded through opening 55 inhousing front 40. The end hook 38 may be mounted on the tape prior tothe tape 30 being wound on the housing 14, and the tape 30 with the endhook 38 mounted thereon is threaded through opening 55. Once the tapereel 14, tape 30 and housing front 40 are united, these components aremounted on the housing base 2. Specifically, the reel 14 and tape 30 arelocated in interior space 7 and posts 16 and 20 are inserted through themating pairs of holes in front housing 40. Post 16 is also insertedthrough hole 62 d in actuator button 62.

Housing cover 22 is attached to housing base 2 using fasteners 18, 24and 108. As the fasteners are tightened the peripheral edge of housingcover 22 is brought in tight engagement with the peripheral edge ofhousing base 2 and the flange 52 of front housing 40. Flanges 11 and 102overlap to create a seal that isolates the interior of the housing fromthe external environment. Posts 16, 20 and 23 are also brought intotight engagement with posts 21, 106 and 108. Housing front 40 is trappedbetween the peripheral edges of housing cover 22 and housing base 2 andis also retained by posts 16 and 20. Fasteners 12 and 36 are secured inapertures 10 and 109 and engage threaded openings 34 in the ends of axle33 to rotatably support the reel 14 in the housing.

In the illustrated embodiment the fastener 12 is also used to retain abelt clip 120 on the housing allowing the tape measure to be secured toa user's belt or the like. The belt clip 120 consists of a single pieceof flexible material 122 folded over on itself to create a first, innerleg 124 and a second, outer leg 126 that overlay each other and arejoined by living hinge 128. Fastener 12 engages an aperture 130 formedin the inner leg 124 to retain the clip 120 on the housing 1. Anaperture 132 may also be formed in the outer leg 126 such that thefastener 12 can be accessed by a driver tool such as a screwdriver. Anactuating lever 134 is formed as a part of the outer leg 126 such that aforce applied to the lever towards housing 1 will cause the distal endof the outer leg 126 to separate from the inner leg 124 allowing theclip to be inserted on or removed from a support such as a belt.Releasing the lever 134 allows the living hinge 128 to move the outerleg 126 back towards the inner leg 124. In one embodiment the clip 120is made of a unitary piece of material such as steel where the screwapertures 130 and 132 and lever 134 are punched from the unitary pieceof material. The material is then bent into the final shape. The clip120 may also be molded out of plastic.

Specific embodiments of an invention are disclosed herein. One ofordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention has otherapplications in other environments. Many embodiments are possible. Thefollowing claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of theinvention to the specific embodiments described above.

1. A tape measure comprising: a tape wound within a housing about acentral axis, said housing including a first housing portion including afirst face generally perpendicular to the central axis, a sidewallextending generally parallel to the central axis from said first face,and a first flange extending from said sidewall generally parallel tothe central axis, and a second housing portion including a second facegenerally perpendicular to the central axis and a second flangeextending generally parallel to the central axis from said second face,said sidewall and said first flange opposing said second flange, whereinsaid first flange and said second flange engage such that said firsthousing portion and said second housing portion join together to form aseam to encase said tape, said seam being asymmetrically disposed onsaid housing.
 2. The tape measure of claim 1 further including a thirdhousing portion, said third housing portion defining an opening forreceiving said tape.
 3. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein said secondface is substantially parallel to said first face, and said seam isadjacent to said second face.
 4. The tape measure of claim 1 means forsecuring said first housing portion to said second housing portion. 5.The tape measure of claim 1 wherein said housing has a centerline, saidseam being located a distance spaced from said centerline.
 6. The tapemeasure of claim 1 further including connecting members on the firsthousing portion and said second housing portion that abut one another atseams that are staggered across the width of the housing alonglongitudinal axes parallel to the central axis.
 7. The tape measure ofclaim 6 wherein said connecting members retain fasteners.
 8. The tapemeasure of claim 2 wherein said first housing portion includes a firstmember that extends through said third housing portion.
 9. The tapemeasure of claim 2 wherein said third housing portion is trapped betweensaid first housing portion and said second housing portion.
 10. The tapemeasure of claim 2 further including a fastener engaged with said firsthousing portion, said second housing portion and said third housingportion.
 11. A tape measure comprising: a tape wound within a housingabout a central axis, said housing exterior being generally symmetricalabout a central plane passing therethrough perpendicular to the centralaxis and having its center of gravity disposed such that the housingwill tend to fall in a predetermined orientation.
 12. The tape measureof claim 11 wherein said center of gravity is located such that saidhousing will tend to fall on a face of said housing.
 13. The tapemeasure of claim 11 wherein said housing comprises a first housingportion and a second housing portion connected at a seam, said facebeing disposed parallel to said seam.
 14. The tape measure of claim 11wherein said housing comprises a first housing portion and a secondhousing portion connected by at least one fastener, said face beingdisposed perpendicular to said at least one fastener.
 15. The tapemeasure of claim 11 wherein said housing is constructed of two differentmaterials, said different materials being used to locate the center ofgravity.
 16. The tape measure of claim 11 said housing including a firstface and a second face, said center of gravity being located closer tosaid first face than to said second face.
 17. The tape measure of claim11 further including a shock absorbent sleeve disposed on the outside ofthe housing.
 18. The tape measure of claim 17 wherein said shockabsorbent sleeve include a relatively more shock absorbent portion. 19.The tape measure of claim 18 wherein said relatively more shockabsorbent portion is located at a predetermined location relative tosaid center of gravity.
 20. The tape measure of claim 15 wherein a firstportion of the housing is made of plastic and a second portion of thehousing is made of metal.
 21. A tape measure comprising: a tape woundwithin a housing about a central axis, said housing including a firsthousing portion including a first face generally perpendicular to thecentral axis, a sidewall extending generally parallel to the centralaxis from said first face, and a first flange extending from saidsidewall generally parallel to the central axis, and a second housingportion including a second face generally perpendicular to the centralaxis and a second flange extending generally parallel to the centralaxis from said second face, said sidewall and said first flange opposingsaid second flange, wherein the said first flange and said second flangeengage such that the said first housing portion and the said secondhousing portion join together to form a seam to encase the said tape,wherein said housing is generally symmetrical about a central planepassing therethrough perpendicular to the central axis and has itscenter of gravity disposed such that the housing will tend to fall in apredetermined orientation.
 22. A tape measure comprising: a tape woundwithin a housing about a central axis, said housing including a firsthousing portion including a first face generally perpendicular to thecentral axis, a sidewall extending generally parallel to the centralaxis from said first face, and a first flange extending from saidsidewall generally parallel to the central axis, and a second housingportion including a second face generally perpendicular to the centralaxis and a second flange extending generally parallel to the centralaxis from said second face, said sidewall and said first flange opposingsaid second flange, wherein said first flange and said second flangeengage such that said first housing portion and said second housingportion join together to form a seam to encase said tape, wherein saidhousing has its center of gravity disposed such that the housing willtend to fall in a predetermined orientation.
 23. A tape measurecomprising: a tape wound within a housing, said housing including afirst housing portion and a second housing portion, wherein the firsthousing portion and the second housing portion join together to form aseam to encase the tape, wherein said housing is generally symmetricalabout a central plane passing therethrough perpendicular to the centralaxis and has its center of gravity disposed such that the housing willtend to fall in a predetermined orientation.